Earlier today, Nigerians went wild on Twitter after discovering that Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State allegedly overlooked Innoson Vehicles to patronise America’s Ford Motor Company.
The Issue at Hand: Apparently, the Imo State Governor purchased hundreds of trucks and donated them for official use in the state. However, the fact that none of the trucks was purchased from Nnewi-based Innoson Vehicles sparked outrage.
For this reason, the Governor was dragged across social media and called “unpatriotic”. Some people even pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari recently patronised Innoson Vehicles. Why then didn’t Governor Ihedioha do the same?
Imo state Governor, unlooked Anambra state where a fellow Igbo man is assembling Innoson Motors, and went to USA to buy 100s of Ford vehicles. Army bought from Innoson, FRSC bought from Innoson, but Emeka Ihedioha decided to buy from Ford, when charity begins at home is nonsense.
— Uncle AJ (@UNCLE_AJALA) August 22, 2019
Imo state Governor, Igbo man, left Innoson Motors owned by a fellow Igbo man from Anambra State, went to USA to buy 100s Ford trucks
Buhari Hausa man mandated the Road Safety, Military and other Govt agency to patronise Nigerian made Vehicle
Only God can help this country pic.twitter.com/75TjeDfP9b
— Abrahams Isaac Adigun (@Sbdsng) August 21, 2019
[READ: Innoson Lied, Admits to spreading false information about GTBank]
The Government’s Response: Following the Twitter outrage, The Imo State Government issued a brief statement explaining that the trucks were not purchased directly from Ford Motor Company. Instead, the purchased vehicles were assembled in Nigeria by Cocharis Motors Assembly Limited which is owned by another Igbo businessman Cosmos Maduka. It should be noted that Cocharis Motors Assembly Limited is in partnership with the American automaker to assemble Ford vehicles in Nigeria.
https://twitter.com/GovernmentImo/status/1164452026346082304
The Role of competition: Based on the foregoing, two things become clear about this entire situation. The Imo State Governor did not exactly overlook made-in-Nigeria products to purchase their foreign counterparts. Instead, competition played a major role in influencing the Imo State Governor’s preference. After all, Innoson Vehicles is not the only auto assembler operating in the country.
Innoson has to do more: The company has been called upon to endear its products to average Nigerians through better marketing/advertising. More so, the company was advised to make its vehicles durable and affordable.
I get your point, but Innoson has to do better to remain competitive, their cars aren't as strong and therefore, do not last. https://t.co/WqvV0NDJTg
— A.J.F. (@femija) August 22, 2019
I get your point, but Innoson has to do better to remain competitive, their cars aren't as strong and therefore, do not last. https://t.co/WqvV0NDJTg
— A.J.F. (@femija) August 22, 2019
Make your cars durable and affordable for the common man and see your sales skyrocket.
You are focusing too much on the elite… They have money to by Lamborghinis, ofces they feel Nigerian made cars are inferior. #Innoson https://t.co/eqyrfOexlS
— Sita (@Sita_suave) August 22, 2019
[READ: Nigerians put on alert as Ford Motors recalls 1.4 million vehicles]
In the meantime, Nigerians have also called on the Nigerian politicians to lead by example by patronising made-in-Nigeria products, as well as work towards implementing favourable policies that will enable local businesses to thrive.
